Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPOSING
PERSONALIZED SCRATCH-OFF LOTTERY TICKETS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for
implementing a scratch-off ("instant") lottery ticket game, and more
particularly to
a system and method that provide personalized lottery tickets that can be
composed at least in part by purchasers of the lottery tickets.
BACKGROUND
"Scratch-off" or "instant-win" lottery tickets have enjoyed immense
popularity in the lottery industry for decades. These games offer distinct
advantages to the lottery authorities and are attractive to a broad spectrum
of
players. The lottery tickets have a predetermined outcome that is revealed to
the
player upon removing a scratch-off coating from over game play indicia in a
game
play area on the ticket. Typically, such lottery tickets are printed with a
game
theme, such as a sports theme or treasure hunt game theme, that is reflected
by
the indicia (including images, graphics, and words) in the game play area and
the
other "real estate" areas on the front face of the ticket, such as the header
and
instruction areas of the ticket.
The types, formats, and games embodied on the scratch-off lottery tickets
must continuously evolve and provide new and exciting gaming experiences to
maintain current players and entice new players to the games. It would be
beneficial to providers and sponsors of lottery ticket games to generate
increased
player excitement and enthusiasm by allowing the players to design their own
personalized scratch-off lottery tickets without unduly complicating the
manufacturing, distribution, and sale of the tickets to the public.
The present invention provides a system and method to address the
above-cited need.
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SUMMARY
Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the
following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be
learned
through practice of the invention.
In one embodiment of the invention, an instant lottery ticket game system
is provided and includes at least one set of scratch-off lottery ticket
blanks,
wherein each lottery ticket blank has a game play area with play indicia that
presents a pre-determined outcome to the game embodied by the ticket. The
play indicia in the game play area is covered by a scratch-off coating (SOC).
Each lottery ticket blank also includes a composition area adjacent the game
play
area. The system includes an automated dispenser, wherein the set of lottery
ticket blanks is housed within the dispenser. An interface, such as any
combination of an interactive screen, keyboard, touchscreen, and the like, is
configured with the dispenser and is in communication with a printer
associated
with the dispenser. The interface is configured to accept player input of
personalized indicia for printing in the composition area. A printer is
operably
configured with the dispenser (e.g., within or external to the dispenser) and
is in
communication with the interface, wherein the printer prints the personalized
indicia from the player in the composition area to generate a finished scratch-
off
lottery ticket prior to dispensing the finished lottery ticket from the
dispenser.
In a particular embodiment of the game system, the dispenser includes a
controller in communication with the interface and the printer, the controller
including a plurality of indicia templates that are presentable to the player
via the
interface. The personalized indicia input by the player may be combined by the
controller with the indicia template selected by the player prior to printing
the
indicia template in the composition area by the printer.
The dispenser controller may be in communication with a central game
server, wherein the indicia templates are updated or downloaded to the
controller
by the central game server.
In another embodiment, the indicia templates may include static indicia
associated with a particular event or occasion, wherein the personalized
indicia
from the player is combined with the static indicia. The indicia is "static"
in that it
is not changeable by the player input. For example, the static indica may
include
a "Happy Birthday" message and the player may input personalized indicia to
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complete or modify the message with a particular name or other unique
information or indicia provided by the player.
In yet another embodiment of the system, the dispenser interface and
controller are configured to present an empty canvas template to the player
that
corresponds to the composition area and to accept the player input of
personalized indicia for printing in the empty canvas template. For example,
the interface and controller may be configured to accept an external image
(e.g.,
a digital picture) presented by the player as the player's personalized
indicia.
This image may be, for example a digital image in an external storage device
presented by the player, wherein the interface includes conventional means for
communicating with the external storage device to accept the digital image
(e.g.,
a USB port, Bluetooth connection, etc.).
In still other embodiments, the interface and controller can be configured
to present to the player options for backgrounds or borders to be printed in
the
empty canvas template along with the personalized indicia from the player.
These backgrounds and borders may include any manner of design, color
scheme, words, etc.
In another unique embodiment of the system, the interface and controller
are configured to present to the player an option to purchase the finished
lottery
ticket with the empty canvas template remaining blank. This option provides
the
player with the ability to personalize the composition area post-purchase. For
example, the player may wish to sketch or paint an image in the composition
area, or attach a photograph in the area, and so forth.
In any of the embodiments, the controller may also present a plurality of
game play area templates to the player via the interface, wherein the game
play
area templates present overprint indicia options selectable by the player for
printing over the SOC by the printer.
The dispenser may include a plurality of the sets of scratch-off lottery
ticket
blanks for different games having a different purchase price and prize
structure.
For example, the dispenser may offer a $1, $5, $10, and $20 ticket, wherein
each
ticket is associated with a game having a different prize structure (i.e.,
greater
prizes for more expensive tickets).
As with conventional scratch-off lottery tickets, each of the lottery ticket
blanks may include a validation code that is linked to an electronic
validation file
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associated with the lottery ticket blank, the validation file containing
ticket-specific
information for validation and pay-out on the lottery ticket blank.
The invention also encompasses various method embodiments for
conducting an instant lottery ticket game, the methods including providing an
automated dispenser with a set of scratch-off lottery ticket blanks, wherein
each
lottery ticket blank has a composition area and a game play area with play
indicia
that presents a pre-determined game outcome, the play indicia covered by a
scratch-off coating (SOC). Via an interface configured with the dispenser and
in
communication with a printer associated with the dispenser, the method
includes
accepting input from a player containing personalized indicia for printing in
the
composition area. The method includes printing the personalized indicia from
the
player in the composition area to generate a finished scratch-off lottery
ticket and
then dispensing the finished lottery ticket from the dispenser.
In certain embodiments, the dispenser includes a controller in
communication with the interface and the printer, the method presenting a
plurality of indicia templates to the player via the controller and interface
and
accepting via the interface the player input and using the player input to
personalize the indicia template. The controller may be in communication with
a
central game server, wherein the method includes updating or downloading the
indicia templates from the central game server.
Other method embodiments may include presenting an empty canvas
template to the player via the controller and interface that corresponds to
the
composition area, and printing the player input of personalized indicia in the
empty canvas template. For example, the player input may be an external image
presented by the player that is saved in an external storage device presented
by
the player via the interface.
The method may further include presenting to the player, via the controller
and the interface, options for backgrounds or borders to be printed in the
empty
canvas template along with the personalized indicia from the player.
The method may also include presenting a plurality of game play area
templates to the player via the interface, the game play area templates
presenting overprint indicia options selectable by the player for printing
over the
SOC by the printer.
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Embodiments of the method may also include providing the dispenser with
a plurality of the sets of scratch-off lottery ticket blanks for different
games having
a different purchase price and prize structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure including the best mode of practicing the
appended claims and directed to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth
more
particularly in the remainder of the specification. The specification makes
reference to the appended figures, in which:
Fig. 1 depicts an instant scratch-off lottery ticket blank for use in
embodiments of the system and method of the present invention;
Fig. 2 depicts finished scratch-off lottery ticket in accordance with aspects
of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a diagram depicting aspects of making a finished lottery ticket
from a lottery ticket blank according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a system component and method configuration
according to embodiments of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a view of a dispenser configured for operation with embodiments
of the system and method of the invention; and
Fig. 6 is a block diagram according to a method embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to various and alternative exemplary
embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, with like numerals representing
substantially identical structural elements. Each example is provided by way
of
explanation, and not as a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those
skilled in
the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from
the
scope or spirit of the disclosure and claims. For instance, features
illustrated or
described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to
yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present
disclosure
includes modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
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The term "player" is used herein in a generic sense to encompass a
person that composes and purchases the finished lottery ticket or a different
person that plays the finished lottery ticket.
Generally, the present disclosure is directed to an instant lottery ticket
game system 10 (Fig. 4) and associated method 100 (Fig. 6) wherein unique
scratch-off lottery ticket blanks 14 (Fig. 1) are personalized by a player to
compose a finished lottery ticket.
Referring to Fig. 1, an embodiment of a lottery ticket blank 14 is depicted
and includes a front face 16 with a game play area 18 having play indicia 20
printed therein that presents to the player a pre-determined outcome of the
game
embodied by the ticket blank 14. The concept and various forms/styles of
scratch-off lottery tickets are well-known to those skilled in the art and a
detailed
explanation thereof is not necessary for an appreciation or understanding of
the
present invention. In general, the game play area 18 typically includes a
first set
22 of game play indicia 20 covered by a scratch-off coating (SOC) and a
separate, second set 24 of game play indicia also covered by the SOC. In a
particular style of game, the player scratches off the SOC from both sets 22,
24
and the outcome of the game is determined by the number of matches between
the game play indicia 20 in the first set 22 and the game play indicia 20 in
the
second set 24. Instruction indicia may be provided in the game play area 18
(or
any other area of the ticket blank 14) that instructs the player as to how to
play
the game embodied on the ticket blank 14.
The game outcome is "predetermined" in that the game indicia 20 is
preprinted on the ticket blank 14 and the player can take no action to change
whether or not the ticket blank 14 is a winning ticket or the prize amount.
The
lottery ticket blank 14 includes a validation code or number 30 (e.g., a bar
code)
printed thereon (front or back) that links the ticket blank 14 to an
electronic
validation file in a remote server/computer system. The validation file
includes
the status of the ticket (i.e., winning ticket or losing ticket and prize
amount) and
enables redemption of the ticket blank 14 (in a finished version) by the
player.
It should be appreciated that the current system and method embodiments
are not limited to any particular type, style, rules, or format of scratch-off
game
embodied on the lottery ticket blank 14.
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Still referring to Fig. 1, each lottery ticket blank 14 includes a composition
area 28 also on the front face 16 adjacent to the game play area 18. For
example, the composition area 28 may be an upper or header section of the
front
face 16 adjacent to game play area 18. Conventional scratch-off lottery
tickets
typically have a game theme (e.g., a sports game theme or a holiday theme)
that
is presented by graphics, illustrations, indicia, and the like, in the header
section
of the ticket. In a particular embodiment according to the present disclosure,
the
lottery ticket blank 14 may be essentially void of a game theme and the
composition area 28 may be considered as a blank canvas by which the player
can personalize the ticket blank 14 to reflect a special event or occasion, or
any
other purpose desired by the player, as explained in greater detail below.
Those skilled in the art understand that scratch-off lottery tickets are
typically printed with a number of different layers on a paper stock. These
layers
can include any combination of security layer, game play indicia layer,
protective
coating layer, primer layer, release layer, SOC layer, overprint layer, and so
forth.
The lottery ticket blanks 14 may be initially printed in accordance with any
suitable combination of layers known and used in the art. The composition area
28 includes a layer or coating that is suitable for overprinting, and may be
an
exposed primer or base layer that is typically provided in conventional
scratch-off
lottery ticket constructions to enable printing of the game theme indicia in
the
header section. Alternatively, the composition area 28 may include a layer of
material that is printed or applied for the specific purpose of practicing the
present
invention.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the system 10 and method 100 include use of
an automated dispenser 32 in which sets 12 (e.g., bundles, rolls, or stacks)
of the
lottery ticket blanks 14 are housed. With reference to Fig. 5, in one
embodiment,
the dispenser 32 may be a self-serve vending machine type of dispenser that is
designed for direct interaction with players and enables the player to make a
selection and purchase of lottery tickets directly via the dispenser 32.
Examples
of such dispensers 32 include the PlayCentral HD, PlayCentral EX and the
PlayCentral 54, offered by Scientific Games Corporation having a principal
place
of business in Alpharetta, Ga., USA , which may be configured with features
and
functionalities for practice of the present system 10 and method 100.
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In an alternative embodiment also depicted in Fig. 4, the automated
dispenser 32 may be embodied as a lottery ticket terminal 72 and associated
ticket array 73 at a point-of-sale (POS) location 70 of a retail
establishment. For
example, Scientific Games Corporation offers FIairTM and Wave TM lottery
ticket
terminals that may be readily configured by those skilled in the art for a
system
and method 100 as described herein. A patron's request fora scratch-off
lottery ticket may be inputted into the lottery ticket terminal 72 by a retail
clerk or
other employee of the retail establishment by various means. A commercially-
available Scientific Games Corporation SciQTM "smart" lottery ticket dispenser
10 array 73 may be in wired or wireless communication with the terminal 72.
This
dispenser array includes one or a plurality of individual lottery ticket bins,
with
each bin typically containing tickets for a different respective lottery
ticket game.
For example, one bin may contain "Lucky 7" themed scratch-off lottery tickets,
while an adjacent bin may contain "Gold Rush" themed scratch-off lottery
tickets,
and so forth. One or more of the bins may contain sets 12 of the lottery
ticket
blanks 14 for use with the present system 10 and method 100.
The dispenser 32, whether embodied as a self-serve vending machine as
in Fig. 5 or a POS terminal 72 as in Fig. 4, is associated with a printer 42
that is
capable of printing indicia, graphics, photos, or any other matter selected by
the
player for personalizing the lottery ticket blank 14 before a finished ticket
is
dispensed via the slot 76 in the dispenser 32 (Fig. 5). Conventional
commercial
printers, such as an ink jet printer, can be readily configured by one skilled
in the
art for this purpose.
The automated dispenser 32 includes an interface 34 that is configured to
accept a player's input of personalized indicia for printing in the
composition area
28 by the printer 42. The interface 34 can include any manner of
hardware/software configuration. For example, in the embodiment of Fig. 5, the
interface 34 may be embodied as an interactive screen 36 that steps the player
through the process of selecting options and inputting personalized indicia
for
printing in the composition area 28. The process may include the use of
sequentially displayed windows 75 that step the player through the various
options and data input process. The interface may also include a keyboard 38
or
touchscreen.
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When the dispenser 32 is embodied as terminal 72 configured with a ticket
array 73 (Fig. 4), the interface 34 may include a clerk-operated device, such
as
an interactive screen, keyboard, or other device in communication with the
terminal 72 and array 73.
Referring to Fig. 5, the dispenser 32 may include a plurality of the sets of
scratch-off lottery ticket blanks 14 for different games (games A-D) having a
different purchase price and prize structure. For example, the dispenser may
offer a $1, $5, $10, and $20 scratch-off ticket, wherein each lottery ticket
blank 14
is associated with a game having a different prize structure (i.e., greater
prizes for
more expensive tickets).
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the dispenser 32 includes a controller 44 that is
in communication with the interface 34 and the printer 42. The controller 44
is
configured to process various commands and control the hardware components
of the dispenser 32 for printing and dispensing a finished lottery ticket 46
(Fig. 2)
therefrom. In the POS station 70 embodiment, the controller 44 may be operably
associated with the terminal 72.
In a particular embodiment of the system 10 and method 100, the
controller 44 has access to or contains a plurality of digital indicia
templates 48 to
present to the player via the interface 34 (e.g., via the interactive screen
36). The
indicia templates 48 may be stored in an internal memory within the controller
44
or in an external storge 59 (Fig. 4) that is accessible by the controller 44
(or
downloaded from the storage 59 to the controller 44).
Referring to Fig. 3, the indicia templates 48 may contain any manner of
static indicia 50 that can be further modified or combined with personalized
indicia 53 that is entered by the player via the interface 34. For example, as
depicted in Fig. 3, an indicia template 48 may be provided for various special
events, such as a birthday, anniversary, birth announcement, etc. The indicia
50
is "static" in that it is a feature of the template 48 that is not changeable
by the
player input. The templates 48 may be added to or modified with the
personalized player indicia 53, such as by adding a name, date, or other
information to the template 48 (as indicated by the highlighted names in the
templates 48 of Fig. 3) via the interface 34.
Referring to Fig. 4, the controller 44 associated with the dispenser 32 may
be in communication (via a communication network 54) with a central game
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server 52 that is managed by a game provider. This server 52 may initially
store
sets of templates 48 for a number of different games (e.g., Game A through F).
The templates 48 may be downloaded to the controller 44 on a periodic basis or
when a purchase is initiated for an individual ticket at the terminal 72 or
dispenser
32. The templates 48 stored remotely at the central server 52 or locally at
the
controller 44 may also be updated by the central server 52 as needed.
In general, communication between the central host server 52 and
controller 44 can be carried via a network interface 54 using any type of
wired
and/or wireless connection, using a variety of communication protocols (e.g.
TCP/IP, HTTP, SMTP, FTP), encodings or formats (e.g. HTML, XML, JSON),
and/or protection schemes (e.g. VPN, secure HTTP, SSL). It should be
appreciated that the central host server 52 can include a network interface
for
providing communications over the network 54. A network interface can include
any suitable components for interfacing with one more networks, including for
example, transmitters, receivers, ports, controllers, antennas, or other
suitable
components.
The central host server 52 can be any computing device and can include
one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media. The
computer-readable media can store instructions which cause the processor to
perform the operations described herein, as well as other functions related to
conduct of the overall game for the lottery authority.
Referring to Fig. 3, embodiments of the system 10 and method 100 may
include providing a plurality of game play area templates 66 for the player to
select. These templates 66 provide different patterns or styles of overprint
indicia
68 that can be printed over the SOC 26 covering the game play indicia 20.
These templates 66 may be linked to particular indicia templates 48 such that
when the player selects an indicia template 48, one or more linked overprint
indicia templates 66 is presented to the player. For example, if the player
selects
an indicia template 48 related to a birthday, the linked game play area
templates
66 may include images of balloons or party hats.
Still referring to Fig. 3, the player may also be presented with options for
different backgrounds 62 (e.g., color, patterns, and the like) or borders 64
that
can also be printed in the composition area 28 or as part of the overprint
indicia
68.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-08-24
In the embodiments depicted in Figs. 1 and 3, the composition area 28 is
presented to the player via the interface 34 as an essentially blank or empty
canvas 56 of a single color or background having little to no other markings
or
indicia. For example, the composition area 28 may be presented as a clean,
empty white space. As particularly depicted in Fig. 3, the player is presented
with
options to create a specialized theme with a personalized message using the
indicia templates 48, background options 64, borders 62, and game play area
templates 66.
Fig. 3 also depicts an embodiment wherein the player has the option to
import an external image 58, such as a photograph or other digital image, from
an external storage device 60 (e.g., a mobile phone or flash drive) for
printing in
the blank composition area 28. The image may be combined with any one or
more of the templates 48, 66, background options 64, borders 62, and so forth.
The dispenser 32 (particularly the interface 34 and controller 44) is
configured to
communicate with the external storage device 60 to accept the external image
58. For example, the dispenser may be configured with a USB port to accept an
external flash drive presented by the player. Alternatively, the dispenser may
be
configured for a wireless exchange of the external image 58 from the player's
storage device 60 (e.g., via Bluetooth).
Referring again to Fig. 3, the player may also be presented with the option
to purchase the lottery ticket blank 14 without adding indicia of any type to
the
composition area 28. The template 56 associated with the blank composition
area 28 may provide such option. This option may be desirable to many players
in that they are free to compose virtually any manner of highly personalized
art,
design, message, and so forth, in the blank composition area 28 at a later
time
using any means they desire, such as paint, ink, stick-on materials, and so
forth.
Fig. 2 depicts an embodiment of a finished lottery ticket 46 made with the
system 10 and method 100 of the present invention. The composition area 28
has been printed with the player's inputted personalized indicia 53 used to
modify
one of the indicia templates 48. The finished ticket 46 is also printed with
the
player's selection of a border 64, background 62, and game play area template
66 with overprint indicia 68.
The present invention also encompasses various method embodiments for
conducting an instant lottery game with personalized scratch-off lottery
tickets.
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Fig. 6 depicts an embodiment of such a method 100, aspects of which are
discussed above.
At step 102, an automated dispenser (vending-machine type or POS
terminal based) is supplied with one or more sets of lottery ticket blanks
described above.
Step 104 indicates that the player makes a selection of one of the lottery
ticket blanks for purchase.
At step 106, via the interface configured with the dispenser, the player is
presented with options for personalizing the lottery ticket blank. Step 108
indicates that the options may be presented by way of indicia templates, game
play area templates, background and border selections, and so forth. Step 110
indicates that, via the interface, the player enters personalized indicia,
such as
(but not limited to) images, graphics, messages, and so forth, as discussed
above.
At step 112, via a printer configured with the dispenser, the lottery ticket
blanks are printed with the player's selected options and personalized indicia
to
generate a finished lottery ticket.
At step 114, the finished lottery ticket is dispensed from the dispenser.
The material particularly shown and described above is not meant to be
limiting, but instead serves to show and teach various exemplary
implementations of the present subject matter. As set forth in the attached
claims, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-
combinations of various features discussed herein, along with such variations
and modifications as would occur to a person of skill in the art.
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